A Giraffe's Purpose

For those of you who have been following my blog for months, perhaps you remember when I entered the prestigious Public Art Sewer Pipe Contest? With bated breath, I awaited the judge's decision on whether my creative rendering of a sewer pipe transformed into a giraffe would win me fame and fortune. After holding my breath for a month, awaiting the outcome of this highly sought after accolade, I was indeed awarded the winning entry. My Sewer Pipe Giraffe was chosen, and would beautify the frankly ugly methane pipes that dot the Charlotte Greenways. After being notified that my proposal was selected from the countless other entries submitted (countless, as in I strongly suspect my entry was the *only* entry), I waited to hear the details of how my project would come to fruition. I waited for months, and then hearing nothing further, decided the sewer pipe beautification project had been scuttled in the wake of trillion dollar debts and other various crises.

Finally, six months later, the Sewer Pipe Committee contacted me yesterday. Who would have thought that in the midst of the historic Sequester, the Parks and Rec department was ready to move forward on my Public Art Submission? While Federal Employees were being tossed under bridges with brown paper bags and bottles of vodka, I was to go forward with the publicly funded project of turning ugly methane pipes into whimsical giraffes.

With just one caveat. I was not to be paid. Well, this was ok with me, I decided, as I read over the first line of the congratulatory email. While payment for work is always desirable, the public acclaim of this unique art form would be worth the volunteer effort. Then I read the second line....
*I*was to provide the funding for all materials as well. They WOULD provide the ladders, however, so I could reach the tippy top of the Methane pipe.

So tempting! I wrote back that I did have a few misgivings. I would love to donate my time and resources to beautify their sewer pipes under most circumstances. However, I wondered if the methane gas pouring out of the pipe in such a concentrated dose might kill me? I was also not quite clear on the perks of this venture. Could they be more specific in what I was to get out of this? So far, they have not written back. They are probably still trying to revive the guy who went out to check and see for himself if the concentrated dose of methane would be lethal or not. If he doesn't regain consciousness soon, I may pass on the project.

My cousin once noted that giraffes are proof that God has a sense of humor. I would agree, particularly in the light of this particular giraffe story. I have labored all my life to "make it" as an artist. I think God is reminding me that my goals are not His goals, my ways are not His ways, and sometimes, we are just supposed to laugh.

Genesis 21:6 (NIV)
Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.”







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